Device for transferring fluids

ABSTRACT

A device for transferring fluids, either in liquid or gaseous form, from one space to another comprises two hollow cylindrical valve bodies, each provided with a radial nipple serving as inlet and outlet respectively, and releasably connected with each other in axial alignment and containing each an axially movable piston releasably connected with each other by a thread on one end of a rod which projects axially from one end of one of said hollow cylindrical valve bodies and has a handle on the outwardly projecting end for manually pushing the combined pistons, which are provided with channels, from one end position in which the channels connect said two nipples with each other to another end position in which said channels are out of communication with said nipples.

ilemp'elmannet all.

DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING FLUIDS Inventors: Wilhelm Hempelmann,Leopoldshafen; Giinter Waldenmeier, Karlsruhe; Manfred Kienhiifer,Leopoldshafen, all of Germany Argus Gesellschaft mbH, Ettlingen/Baden,Germany Filed: Oct. 21, 1971 Appl. No.: 191,364

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 4, 1971 Germany 2110320 US. Cl251/148, 137/614, 137/625.38, 137/614.11 Int. Cl. F161 35/00 Field ofSearch 251/148, 325, 149.9; 137/625.38, 625.48, 625.49, 614.04, 614,614.01, 614.02, 614.03, 614.05, 614.06, 61411-61421 References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS Feb. 5, 1974 2,709,566 5/1955 Davis 251/1482,839,079 6/1958 Holmes 251/325 x FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS352,205 3/1961 Switzerland 137/614.04

Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Assistant Examinerlra S. Lazarus Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [5 7] ABSTRACT Adevice for transferring fluids, either in liquid or 'gaseous form, fromone space to another comprises two hollow cylindrical valve bodies, eachprovided with a radial nipple serving as inlet and outlet respectively,and releasably connected with each other in axial alignment andcontaining each an axially movable piston releasably connected with eachother by a thread on one end of a rod which projects axially from oneend of one of said hollow cylindrical valve bodies and has a handle onthe outwardly projecting end for manually pushing the combined pistons,which are provided with channels, from one end position in which thechannels connect said two nipples with each other to another endposition in which said channels are out of communication with saidnipples.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 5 I974 SHEET 1 OF 3 IN V EN TORWe Mei; Hempelmm, 67 0A,- MZzla/em Pier DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING FLUIDSThe invention relates to a system for the transfer of material from onespace into another one by means of valve bodies connected to said spaceand are connectable with each other. When these valve bodies are coupledtogether, their outer or separating surfaces-will not be contaminated bythe material transferred. In particular the invention pertains to avalve coupling for fluids for the transfer of contaminated liquidsand/or gases.

The DT-AS 1 295 721 already describes a device which serves forconveying articles through the wall of a vessel in which reactions takeplace between radioactive materials. The device consists of a shortcylindrical sleeve attachedto the inlet port of the vessel, and ofcup-shaped sleeves which receive the articles to be conveyed and may bepushed through the sleeve while the device remains closely sealed alongthe inner surface of the sleeve, whereby'each cup moves the precedingone. This device assures a hazard free conveying of contaminatedmaterial from one space into another one; however,-thecups can be usedonly once.

The DB GM 6 919 630 discloses a device designed as a rotary lock, whichutilizes a rotor inside the thickness of a protective wall and has atransverse channel which depending on the position of the rotorestablishes a connection between both sides of the wall transverselythrough the rotor or closes it. 4

The object of the invention is a separable transfer device of theabove-mentioned type, particularly for the transfer of contaminatedmaterial in which the outer or separating surfaces, when separated aftertransfer, are free of any engagement with the material transferred. Thisis accomplished in a device of the above-mentioned type in such a mannerthat each valve body contains a first and a second closure member bothmovable longitudinally along the valve body axis. These closure membersare movable together from a first end position, which corresponds to theseparation and tight shut-off of both halves of the valve body, into asecond end position. In the second end position a connecting channel isopened from one space into the other. Both halves of the valve body canbe connected tightly with their surfaces which are exposed in theseparated stage.

In one embodiment of the invention the closure members comprisecylindrical pistons, whereby a bore in the first piston of the firstvalve body leads from a first opening in the outer surface of the firstpiston to a second opening that is offset axially from the firstopening. Further, in the first end position the first and secondopenings are sealed, radiation-proof from the atmosphere by gaskets ofthe first valve body, and in the second end position both openings areconnected. to at least one of a third and fourth opening each in thewall of the first and second valve body leading to one or the otherspace. One of the closure pistons may be axially movable by means of arotary push rod, ;which is rotatably received by one of the closurepistons and is axially slidable.

Another embodiment of the invention features closure pistons ofcylindrical shape with conical ends, in which the blunted end surfacesof the first closure piston is united with the end surface of the,second piston by means of a rotary push rod in such a manner that bothwill form a combined closure member which in one end position separates.fluid-tight the second spaces of the second valve body that areconnected with the one closed space from the first spaces of the firstvalve body that are connected with the other space. In the otherendposition the combined closure member connects the first and secondinterior spaces.

An additional embodiment of the invention features a coaxial tubeattached to a concentric bore in the rear of the closure piston of thefirst valve body. The bore forms a part of the flow channel inside thepiston leading to the outer circumferential surface of the valve body.The tube enters more or less deeply into the concentric bore when thepiston moves fromone end position to the other end position and is incommunication with the one space. I

The devices of this invention have the advantage over the prior art thatthey may be used in open spaces and permit a contamination-freeconnection and disconnection, for instance, with transport bottles whichare attached to a first valve body, or with boxes or other containers onwhich a second valve body is secured which together with the valve bodyassociated with the bottle forms a transfer device. Since, as a rule,contaminated solutions have been transported heretofore in plasticcontainers which will be contaminated when transferred intodecontamination boxes, the invention offers great economical advantageby offering a simple possibility for hazard-free transfer of suchmaterial without contamination of the transport container.

In the following are. described additional special features andadvantages of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawingsshowing various embodiments of devices for transferring particularlypoisonous or contaminated substances, be it in liquid or gaseous form.All figures of the drawings illustrate axially sectional views asfollows:

FIG. -1 shows a first embodiment with coupled valve bodies and closurepistons, the latter being in a position opening a flow channel throughthe device;

FIG. 2 shows a modified embodiment with closure pistons in a positionclosing off the flowchannel; and

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment with a flow channel featuring only onechange of direction.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment in which the valve bodies 5 and 9comprise hollow cylindrical members which are connected by a box nut 7which is threaded on an exterior thread 25 of the second valve body 5and engages an outer collar 27 on the other valve body 9. Between theopposite plane surfaces 21 and 22 of the valve bodies one of thesurfaces 22 has a circular groove 23 which has disposed therein anO-ring 8. At their ends opposed to the sealed joint indicated by a dashline 28 both valve bodies are closed by cover plates 3 and 14respectively, and gaskets 15, 20 held in place by threaded bolts 2. Eachvalve body is provided with a radial nipple 6 and 16, respectively, andeach nipple has an axial bore 31 and 17, respectively, whichcommunicates with an opening 33 and 32, respectively, in the inner wall35 and 34, respectively, of the valve bodies. The nipple 16 is equippedat its outer end with an exterior thread 36 for attaching the valve body9 to a transport container for contaminated fluid, e.g. while the nipple6 isconstructed for the attachment to a hose.

Each valve body 5 and 9 has mounted therein a closure piston 4 and 11which is slidable between the axially aligned cover plates 3 and 14. Inthe illustrated position both pistons are connected with each other by arotary push rod 1 which is operated from outside of valve body 5. Therotary push rod 1 has an operating handle at its outer end and slidesand rotates in a bore 41 in the cover plate 3 and is sealed therein byan O- ring 40 against the interior of the valve body 5. The rod 1extends axially through the second piston 4 and has a thread 44 on itsinner end which extends beyond the end face 42 of the piston 4 and isscrewed into a threaded hole 45 in the piston l 1, thus joining bothpistons. In the joined condition of the pistons a ringshaped area 47which is-formed by a recess 42 in piston 4 sealingly engages the planesurface 43 of the other piston, so that the end faces 42 and 43 and thehollow space formed between these end faces cannot be contaminated bythe medium to be transferred.

The piston 11 is provided with an axial bore 29, the ends of which arein communication with two radial bores 30 and 48 perpendicular to thebore 29. The bores 30 and 48 are offset so that in the operativeposition shown their openings 79 and 80 coincide with openings 32, 33 inthe circumferential walls of the valve bodies, whereas in the other endposition of the pistons the openings 79 and 80 will be covered by theinner wall 34 of the valve body 9. The piston 11 is sealed within thevalve body 5 by O-rings 18 arranged in circular grooves in the innerwall of the valve body on both sides of the opening 33 to preventcontamination of the areas 38 and 39 of the pistons as well as of thecavities between the piston faces 49 and 50 and the cover plates 3 and14. Two more O-rings 13 are disposed in circular grooves in the surface38 of the piston 11 between the opening 79 and the end face 49 of thepiston 11.

In the separated condition of the valve bodies the pistons 4 and 11 areaxially moved relative to the operative position shown in FIG. 1, sothat the faces 42 and 43 are located in the contact plane indicated bythe dash line 28. An axial keyway 51 in the surface 38 of the piston 11and a radial threaded pin 82 in the wall ofthe valve body 9 sliding inthe keyway 51 secures the piston 11 against rotation within the bore ofthe valve body 9 and also limits its axial displacement.

In the illustrated operative position, the pistons 4 and 11 areconnected with each other and the bores 17 and 31 are in communicationwith another through the radial holes 30 and 48 and the axial hole 29inside the piston 11, the end of which is closed by a plug 370. Thusfluid can be transferred along the channel indicated. After completionof the transfer both pistons 4 and 11 are moved axially into the otherend position by the rotary push rod 1. Air displaced by this axialmovement from the cavity between end face 49 and the cover plate 14escapes through a channel 52 inside the valve body 9 either into adischarge vessel connected to the nipple 16 or into the atmospherethrough a lateral hole 53 and a filter (not shown) which can be screwedinto a threaded hole 54 in the nipple 16. For venting the cavity betweenthe end face 50 of the piston 4 and the cover plate 3 of valve body 5,similar channels are provided which however are not shown.

When the pistons 4 and 11 are thus moved axially into the other endposition opposite the operative position shown, the rotary push rod isrotated until the threads 44 and 46 are separated. When then the box nut7 is unscrewed from outer thread 25 on the valve body 5, the valvebodies 5 and 9 may be separated.

The connection of the two valve bodies 5 and 9 is accomplished inreverse sequence. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has also two valvebodies and 109 connected'by a box nut 107, and each valve body containsan axially movable piston 104 and 111, respectively. Between the endsurfaces 121, 122 and 142, 143, respectively, of the pistons a circulargroove 123 in one of the surfaces contains an O-ring 108. Both valvebodies, as distinguished from the embodiment of FIG. 1, are closed bywalls 103 and 114 to which are bolted two axial support members 158, 159of tubular shape.

A cylinder section of the piston 104 extends through the wall 103axially, is sealed off by an O-ring 140, and projects into the supportmember 158, the rear end of which is closed by a cover plate 162.Screwed on the reduced end of the cylinder section 155 opposite thepiston 104 is an abutment disc 163 which tensions a spring against thewall 103.

The piston 111 is also axially movable inside the valve body 109 and itscylinder section 157 extends through the wall 114 into the supportmember 159 and is sealed by O-rings 156, 167. The abutment disc 164 isthreaded into the support member 159 and tensions the springs 161against the end face of the cylinder section 157 inside the supportmember.

The pistons 104 and 111, as opposed to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,have tapered ends and 171 facing each other and forming a closurecoupling with conical sealing faces. In the position shown in FIG. 2they are urged toward each other in the tapered seats 173, 174 of thevalve bodies by springs 160 and 161. the pistons are conntected to eachother by a rotary push rod 101 which is rotatable and axially slidablein an axial-bore 175 of the piston 111 and is screwed with its threadedend section 144 into a threaded hole 145 in the piston 104. The otherend of the rod 101 projects from the support member 159. The rod 101engages with a collar thereon the face of the cylinder section 157opposite from the conical end 171.

Each valve body has a ring-shaped cavity 168, 169 enclosed by. theconical seat 173 and 174, the end wall 103 and 114 and the correspondingcylinder section 155 and 157 of the pistons. Through an opening 133and-a bore 131 in a nipple 106 mounted on the valve body 104 acommunication is established with the ringshaped cavity 168, whereas abore 117 in a nipple 1 16 mounted on valve body 109 establishes acommunication with a ring-shaped cavity 169 through an opening 132.

In the position of the pistons shown in FIG. 2 the ring-shaped cavities168 and 169 are separated from each other. To open a flow channelthrough the transfer assembly, the coupled pistons 104 and 111 have tobe moved axially to the right (on the drawing), using the rotary pushrod 101 to overcome the force of springs 160 and 161. For arresting thepistons in their axially displaced position serves a pin 176 extendingtransversely through rod 101 and movable through an opening 177 in theabutment disc 164 to lock on the rear side of the abutment disc afteraslight turn of the rod 101.

When the flow channel is to be closed after finishing a transferprocedure, the ring-shaped cavities 168 and 169 have to be separatedagain. For this purpose the rod 101 is turned back slightly so that thepin 176 can slide back through the opening 177 in the abutment disc 164.The coupled pistons then return into their closure position shown inFIG. 2 due to the force of the springs 160 and 161. The separation ofthe pistons is accomplished, as described in conjunction with FIG. 1, byrotating the rod 101 to separate the threads 149 and 145. Then the valvebodies can be separated by unscrewing the box nut 107. Obviously, afterseparation in the plane 128 the exposed end faces of the valve bodiesand of the pistons are free of any contaminatron.

ln the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 the valve bodies 208and 212 containing the axially movable pistons 205 and 224 are againconnected with I each other by a box nut 210. This box nut engages aring collar on the valve body 212 and is threaded on the thread 231 ofthe valve body 208. The end faces 229 and 230 of the valve bodiescontaining ring seals 223 are pressed together. Guide pins 211 screwedinto the face 230 extend into holes 232 in the face 229 and secure thevalve bodies against relative turning. On the face of the valve body 208directed away from the face 230 is mounted a support assembly 235provided with a hand wheel 204 and attached to the valve body by a boxnut 238 so it can be turned. This assembly is screwed onto the thread ofthe valve body 208 and engages a collar on the support assembly. Thepiston 205 is axially penetrated by a rotary push rod 228 and has athreaded extension projecting through the support assembly. A hat-shapedthreaded sleeve 207 is screwed securely on the extension but it isscrewed loosely and adjustably into an interior thread 260 of thesupport assembly. The rotary push rod 228 is connected to the sleeve 207by a nut-type member 201. A guide sleeve 215 is screwed to the valvebody 212, at the opposite end from the hand wheel 204, with a connectormember 217 screwed with its thread at the opposite end from thehandwheel. A pipe 218 extends eccentrically through the guide sleeve 215inside the valve body. The end of the pipe 128 inside of valve body 212is connected to an equally eccentric bore 243 in the piston 224, and issealed by O-rings 221 against the interior of; the valve body. Theinterior is further sealed by a closure plate 242 and a gasket 220secured by bolts 214 to the guide sleeve 215. Vent holes 240, 241 extendthrough the guide sleeve 215 and also through the closure plate 242 andthe gasket 220 connecting the interior of the valve body with a closedspace which is connected with the pipe 218 and the atmosphere,respectively, through a filter system which can be attached to thelateral port 239.

The pistons 205 and 224 are connected with each other by screwing thethreaded end 236 of the rod 228 into the threaded section 246 of thepiston 224 with a sealed ring seat 250 on the piston 205 sealinglyengaging a face on the piston 224. The sealing of the pistons from theatmosphere is achieved by O-rings 222, 226,

251, and 252 which are disposed in circular grooves in the guide boresof the valve bodies and the circumferential surface of the pistons,respectively.

In the illustrated operative position the pistons are in their endpositions opening the flow channels, so that in the piston 224 an axialbore 243 and an adjoining radial bore 244 are connected with a bore 234in a nipple 209 attached to the valve body 208 at 233. In this positiona shoulder 213 on the piston 205 engages a closure wall 227 between thevalve body'208 and a support assembly 235 which can be rotated in it.When the handwheel 204 is turned, the threaded sleeve 207 moves in thethreaded section 260 of the support assembly 235 until a collar 247 onthe piston 205 engages the closure plate 227, and the piston face 253engages the closure plate 242, respectively. The piston faces 237 and248 lie then in the dividing plane between the valve bodies. Whenturning the handwheel farther, then the thread tap 236 can be unscrewedfrom thread 246 after previously separating the two valve bodies byunscrewing the box nut 210. The end faces of the pistons are then, afterseparation, free of anycontaminated areas by the arrangement of O-rings251, 252, 223 and free of contamination by the fluid transferred.

1 The reconnection procedure for the valve bodies and the pistons takesplaces in reverse sequence.

What we claim is:

1. A disconnect coupling for transferring fluid between two containerswhich comprises a pair of housing members each having means forconnection to a container, said housing members having free ends withmating end surfaces, means detachably coupling said housing memberstogether with said end surfaces in tight abutting relation, said housingmembers having registering coaxial bores open to the free ends thereof,a separate piston slidable in each of said bores, each having an endface adapted to close the bores when the pistons are in a firstposition, said pistons being slidable to a second position, meansdefining a flow path joining the means for connection to the twocontainers when the pistons are in said second position, coupling meansselectively locking the pistons together axially while in said firstposition with at least peripheral portions of the end faces of thepistons in abutting sealed relation, actuating means associated withsaid coupling for moving the pistons to said second position andactuatable only when said pistons are locked together, and said flowpath being isolated from the surfaces of the free ends of the housingand the end faces of said pistons preventing contact of the fluid beingtransferred therewith, and movement of said pistons from the secondposition to the first position closing said flow path. A

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the coupling means is effective toattach the two pistons together in end face to end face abutted relationwith at least one of the pistons attached to the actuating means andsaid actuating means being effective to pull the one piston partiallyout of the bore of one housing member into the bore of the other housingmember while moving the piston in the other housing member awayfrom thefree end of said other member within the bore of the other housingmember while maintaining end face abutment of the pistons.

3. The coupling of claim 2 wherein one of said housing members has anoutlet associated therethrough communicating to its bore and the otherof said housingmembers has an inlet therethrough communicating to itsbore, the one of said pistons having a flow path therethrough adapted tocommunicate the inlet to the outlet when the piston is in the secondposition.

4. The coupling of claim 2 wherein one of said housing members has anoutlet therethrough communicating to the bore and the other of saidhousing members has an inlet therethrough communicating to the bore, thepistons having peripheral faces adjacent the end faces thereof closingthe said bores adjacent the free ends of the housing members, thepistons having a diameter less than the diameter of portions of at leastone bore, the pistons being movable to a second position within the onebore communicating the bores to one another around the peripheral facesof the pistons.

5. The coupling of claim 4 wherein the periphera faces of the pistonsare frustoconical.

6. The coupling of claim 1 in which the coupling means comprises athreaded end on an axially extending rod which extends through one ofthe pistons and which is threadable into a threaded opening in an endface of the other of said pistons to attach the rod to the other of saidpistons and to draw the other of said pistons against the one of saidpistons, the rod being axially movable to move the said pistons inunison from the one position to the second position, the rod having anenlargement remote from the threaded end, the enlargement urging theother piston against the one piston when the rod is threadably connectedwith the one piston.

7. The coupling of claim 1 in which the pistons comprise cylindricalpistons with frustoconical ends, one next to the other, the couplingmeans including a rotary and axially slidable rod which extends slidablythrough one of the pistons and is threadably connected with one of itsends to the other piston, with an en largement remote from the threadedend of the rod urging the one piston in engagement with the other pistonto form a continuous conical outer surface on said connected pistons,the housing pistons being provided each with the fluids space betweenwhich is arranged a conical inner wall adapted to be engaged by suchconical outer surface of the connected pistons so as to separate the twofluid spaces when the pistons are in the one position.

8. The coupling of claim 1 including spring means urging the pistonsinto the one position, the actuating means effective to overcome theurging of the spring to move the pistons to the second position.

1. A disconnect coupling for transferring fluid between two containerswhich comprises a pair of housing members each having means forconnection to a container, said housing members having free ends withmating end surfaces, Means detachably coupling said housing memberstogether with said end surfaces in tight abutting relation, said housingmembers having registering coaxial bores open to the free ends thereof,a separate piston slidable in each of said bores, each having an endface adapted to close the bores when the pistons are in a firstposition, said pistons being slidable to a second position, meansdefining a flow path joining the means for connection to the twocontainers when the pistons are in said second position, coupling meansselectively locking the pistons together axially while in said firstposition with at least peripheral portions of the end faces of thepistons in abutting sealed relation, actuating means associated withsaid coupling for moving the pistons to said second position andactuatable only when said pistons are locked together, and said flowpath being isolated from the surfaces of the free ends of the housingand the end faces of said pistons preventing contact of the fluid beingtransferred therewith, and movement of said pistons from the secondposition to the first position closing said flow path.
 2. The couplingof claim 1 wherein the coupling means is effective to attach the twopistons together in end face to end face abutted relation with at leastone of the pistons attached to the actuating means and said actuatingmeans being effective to pull the one piston partially out of the boreof one housing member into the bore of the other housing member whilemoving the piston in the other housing member away from the free end ofsaid other member within the bore of the other housing member whilemaintaining end face abutment of the pistons.
 3. The coupling of claim 2wherein one of said housing members has an outlet associatedtherethrough communicating to its bore and the other of said housingmembers has an inlet therethrough communicating to its bore, the one ofsaid pistons having a flow path therethrough adapted to communicate theinlet to the outlet when the piston is in the second position.
 4. Thecoupling of claim 2 wherein one of said housing members has an outlettherethrough communicating to the bore and the other of said housingmembers has an inlet therethrough communicating to the bore, the pistonshaving peripheral faces adjacent the end faces thereof closing the saidbores adjacent the free ends of the housing members, the pistons havinga diameter less than the diameter of portions of at least one bore, thepistons being movable to a second position within the one borecommunicating the bores to one another around the peripheral faces ofthe pistons.
 5. The coupling of claim 4 wherein the peripheral faces ofthe pistons are frustoconical.
 6. The coupling of claim 1 in which thecoupling means comprises a threaded end on an axially extending rodwhich extends through one of the pistons and which is threadable into athreaded opening in an end face of the other of said pistons to attachthe rod to the other of said pistons and to draw the other of saidpistons against the one of said pistons, the rod being axially movableto move the said pistons in unison from the one position to the secondposition, the rod having an enlargement remote from the threaded end,the enlargement urging the other piston against the one piston when therod is threadably connected with the one piston.
 7. The coupling ofclaim 1 in which the pistons comprise cylindrical pistons withfrustoconical ends, one next to the other, the coupling means includinga rotary and axially slidable rod which extends slidably through one ofthe pistons and is threadably connected with one of its ends to theother piston, with an enlargement remote from the threaded end of therod urging the one piston in engagement with the other piston to form acontinuous conical outer surface on said connected pistons, the housingpistons being provided each with the fluid''s space between which isarranged a conical inner wall adapted to be engaged by such conicalouter surfAce of the connected pistons so as to separate the two fluidspaces when the pistons are in the one position.
 8. The coupling ofclaim 1 including spring means urging the pistons into the one position,the actuating means effective to overcome the urging of the spring tomove the pistons to the second position.